Particles
Incomplete Lists of Nouns
The Japanese particle ya connects two or more nouns to form an open, incomplete list. It tells the listener that the items mentioned are just examples, and that other similar things exist in the same context. This is different from the particle to, which creates a complete, closed list of every single item.
01Main Functions
Providing an Incomplete List
Connects nouns to show that the mentioned items are only part of a larger, unmentioned group.
英語や日本語を勉強しています。
(I) am studying English and Japanese (among other languages).
Emphasizing Examples with nado
Often paired with nado (etc.) to make it explicitly clear that the listed items are representative examples.
ケーキやアイスなどがあります。
There are cakes and ice cream, etc.
Contrasting with Exhaustive Lists
Used when a complete list would be unnatural or impossible to state, such as listing a few items found in a large category or space.
部屋に服や本が落ちています。
There are clothes and books (among other things) on the floor in the room.
02Sentence Pattern
noun A + や + noun B + があります
机の上に本やペンがあります。
There are books and pens (among other things) on the desk.
Using this pattern with verbs of existence shows that the location contains the listed items, plus other unmentioned things.
noun A + や + noun B + を + verb
スーパーでパンや牛乳を買いました。
(I) bought bread and milk (among other things) at the supermarket.
When paired with an action verb, ya shows that you interacted with a partial list of objects.
noun A + や + noun B + など + を + verb
休みの日には、テニスやサッカーなどをします。
On (my) days off, (I) play tennis and soccer, etc.
Adding nado (etc.) explicitly emphasizes that tennis and soccer are just representative examples of the sports you play.
noun A は + noun B + や + noun C + です
趣味は読書や映画です。
(My) hobbies are reading and movies (among other things).
You can use ya directly before the copula です to give a partial list of things that define a topic.
noun A + や + noun B + や + noun C + に + 行きます
東京や京都や大阪に行きました。
(I) went to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka (among other places).
You can chain ya multiple times to list three or more nouns, though it is usually best to keep lists relatively short.
noun A + や + noun B + が + 好きです
犬や猫が好きです。
(I) like dogs and cats (and other animals).
Using ya with adjectives of preference suggests that you like animals in general, choosing dogs and cats as the main examples.
noun A + や + noun B + など + があります
かばんの中に財布や鍵などがあります。
There are things like a wallet and keys inside the bag.
Combining ya with nado and an existence verb is the standard way to describe a few items out of many inside a container.
03Example Sentences
机の上に本やペンがあります。
There are books and pens (among other things) on the desk.
The particle ya shows that books and pens are just examples of what is on the desk.
スーパーでパンや牛乳を買いました。
(I) bought bread and milk (among other things) at the supermarket.
Used with an action verb to list some, but not all, of the items purchased.
休みの日には、テニスやサッカーなどをします。
On (my) days off, (I) play tennis and soccer, etc.
Adding nado (etc.) emphasizes that tennis and soccer are representative examples of the sports played.
かばんの中に財布や鍵などがあります。
There are things like a wallet and keys inside the bag.
Combining ya and nado with a verb of existence is a common way to describe a few items inside a container.
趣味は映画や読書です。
(My) hobbies are movies and reading (among other things).
You can use ya directly before the copula です to give a partial list of things that define a topic.
東京や京都や大阪に行きました。
(I) went to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka (among other places).
You can chain ya multiple times to list three or more nouns, though it is usually best to keep lists relatively short.
私は犬や猫が好きです。
I like dogs and cats (and other animals).
Using ya with adjectives of preference suggests that you like animals in general, choosing dogs and cats as the main examples.
パーティーに田中さんや鈴木さんが来ました。
Mr. Tanaka and Mr. Suzuki (among others) came to the party.
You can use ya to list people when you are not naming everyone who was present.
公園に鳥や虫がいます。
There are birds and bugs (among other things) in the park.
Used with imasu for living things to show that other unnamed creatures are also present in the location.
学校で英語や日本語を勉強します。
(I) study English and Japanese (among other subjects) at school.
Shows that English and Japanese are part of a larger curriculum.
朝ごはんにパンや卵を食べます。
(I) eat bread and eggs (among other things) for breakfast.
Indicates that the meal consists of bread, eggs, and likely other unmentioned items.
夏休みに海や山へ行きたいです。
(I) want to go to the ocean and the mountains (among other places) during summer vacation.
Lists examples of destinations using the directional particle e.
飲み物は、お茶やジュースがあります。
As for drinks, there are tea and juice (among other things).
Introduces a broad category using the topic marker わ, and then lists examples of what is available within that category.
04Comparisons
ya vs. to
Both particles connect nouns and translate to "and," but they have opposite functions. The particle to creates a complete, closed list—if you use to, you are stating that there is absolutely nothing else left out. The particle ya creates an incomplete, open list, signaling that the items mentioned are just examples.
本とペンがあります。
There is a book and a pen (and absolutely nothing else).
本やペンがあります。
There are books and pens (among other things).
ya vs. nado
The particle ya connects nouns to form a partial list, while nado is placed after a noun (or a list of nouns) to explicitly mean "etc." or "and so on." Because they share the same incomplete nuance, they are frequently paired together (Noun A + ya + Noun B + nado) to make the sentence highly natural and clear.
犬や猫がいます。
There are dogs and cats (among other animals).
犬や猫などがいます。
There are dogs and cats, etc.
05Nuance and Usage
The particle ya is often introduced simply as "and," but its true meaning is much closer to "and... among other things." When you use ya to connect two nouns, you are actively signaling to the listener that the items you just named are merely a sample. For instance, if you mention that there are dogs and cats in the park using ya, a native speaker will naturally assume there might also be birds, bugs, or other animals present. It paints a picture of a broader category without needing to list every single item.
Because ya leaves the list open-ended, it pairs perfectly with the word nado (etc.). Adding nado at the end of your list—for example, "eigo ya nihongo nado" (English and Japanese, etc.)—makes it explicitly clear that you are just giving representative examples. This combination is incredibly common in both everyday conversation and formal writing, serving as a polite way to summarize a situation without being overly precise or wordy.
It is crucial to remember that ya is strictly a noun-connecting particle. English speakers often use "and" to connect anything: nouns, adjectives, or entire sentences (like "I went home and I slept"). In Japanese, ya can never be used this way. If you try to connect verbs or adjectives with ya, the sentence will instantly break grammatical rules. Furthermore, if you are holding exactly two items and listing them both, using ya would sound strange because you are implying the existence of invisible items; in closed situations, you must use to.
06Core Explanation
The Japanese particle ya connects two or more nouns to form an open, incomplete list.
In Japanese, the particle ya is used to connect two or more nouns to form an incomplete list. When you use ya, you are telling the listener that the items you are mentioning are just examples, and that there are other similar things that you have left out. It is often translated as "and," but it carries the hidden nuance of "among other things."
A strict rule for using ya is that it only attaches to nouns. You can use it to list physical objects, places, animals, or noun-based activities such as "shopping" or "cleaning." However, you cannot use ya to connect verbs, i-adjectives, or na-adjectives. If you want to say that you eat and drink, you must use a different grammar structure, such as the te-form of the verb, rather than inserting ya between the words.
Beginners often confuse ya with the particle to, because both are often translated as "and." The difference is that to creates a complete, closed list. If you say "hon to pen ga arimasu," you are stating that there is a book and a pen, and absolutely nothing else. If you say "hon ya pen ga arimasu," you are saying there is a book and a pen, but there are probably other things on the desk too. Use ya when your list is open and you are just giving examples.
To make it even clearer that your list is incomplete, ya is frequently paired with the word nado, which means "etc." or "and so on." In this pattern, you connect your nouns with ya, and then place nado directly after the final noun in the list, such as "sushi ya tenpura nado." This combination is highly natural in both spoken and written Japanese when you want to highlight a few representative examples from a larger category.
Because ya is often translated as "and," learners sometimes try to use it like the English word "and" to connect full clauses or sentences. Remember that ya is strictly a noun-connecting particle. Another common mistake is using ya when you actually mean to list every single item you own or did. If your list is short and exhaustive, stick to と. Use ya only when you want to leave the door open for unmentioned items.
07Common Mistakes
Wrong
パンを食べますや牛乳を飲みます。
Correct
パンを食べて、牛乳を飲みます。
Why: The particle ya cannot connect full sentences or verbs. To connect sequential actions, you must use the te-form of the verb (such as tabete) instead.
Wrong
この部屋は大きいや明るいです。
Correct
この部屋は大きくて明るいです。
Why: The particle ya is strictly a noun-connecting particle. It cannot connect i-adjectives or na-adjectives.
Wrong
パンと牛乳などがあります。
Correct
パンや牛乳などがあります。
Why: The particle to implies a complete list, while nado implies an incomplete list ("etc."). Mixing them is contradictory. Use ya when you plan to add nado.
Wrong
スーパーでパンや牛乳や買いました。
Correct
スーパーでパンや牛乳を買いました。
Why: The particle ya connects the nouns together, but you still need the correct object particle (like o) before the verb. The particle ya cannot be placed immediately before an action verb.
Wrong
テーブルの上にりんごやがあります。
Correct
テーブルの上にりんごなどがあります。
Why: The particle ya must sit between two or more nouns (Noun A ya Noun B). If you only want to list one item but imply there are others, you cannot leave ya hanging; you must use nado instead.
Wrong
日本やアメリカに行きましたや。
Correct
日本やアメリカに行きました。
Why: The particle ya connects nouns within a sentence; it is not a sentence-ending particle. If you want to trail off at the end of a list, use nado instead.
08Questions
Can I use ya to say "I eat and drink"?
No, ya is strictly a noun-connecting particle. You can use it for nouns like "apples and bananas" (ringo ya banana), but to connect action verbs, you must use a different structure like the te-form of the verb.
Can I use ya more than once in a sentence?
Yes, you can chain it to list three or more nouns, such as "Tokyo ya Osaka ya Kyoto." However, in practice, native speakers usually stick to two or three examples so the sentence does not become overwhelmingly long.
Is it okay to use ya if I am listing every single thing I have?
If your list is 100% complete and there is absolutely nothing left out, you should use to instead. Using ya when the list is complete sounds strange to a native speaker because it implies there are mysterious, unmentioned items hidden away.
Do I always have to use nado with ya?
No, nado is completely optional. Using ya by itself already implies that the list is incomplete. However, adding nado (like "hon ya pen nado") is a very common and natural way to make the "etc." nuance completely unambiguous.
09Mini Practice
- 01
趣味は音楽（ ）映画です。
- 02
(Listing everything in the box) 箱の中に時計（ ）指輪があります。
- 03
(I) bought bread and milk (among other things) at the supermarket.
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 04
スーパーで野菜や肉などを買いました。
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 05
カバンの中に財布や鍵（ ）があります。
- 06
昨日、すしを食べますや、お茶を飲みました。
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 07
There are dogs and cats (among other animals) in the park.
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 08
東京や京都に行きました。
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
Summary
Learner Summary
- The particle ya connects two or more nouns to form an incomplete list, carrying the meaning of "and... among other things."
- It signals that the items you mentioned are just representative examples of a larger, unmentioned group.
- Unlike to, which creates a closed and exhaustive list, ya intentionally leaves the list open-ended.
- The particle ya is frequently paired with nado (etc.) at the end of the list to emphasize that there are other unmentioned items.
- You can only use ya to connect nouns; it cannot be used to connect verbs, adjectives, or full sentences.